Caring4K9s”: Reviewing Responsible Dog Ownership in Wales to Reduce Dog Attacks – Special Symposium Event at the National Assembly for Wales, 9 January 2018

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

This is to inform Branches and Reps in Wales of an event that is being organised and hosted by Julie Morgan Welsh Assembly Member for Cardiff North and Cardiff City Councillor, Cabinet Member and Former Deputy Mayor Dilwar Ali.

There is an open invitation to CWU Reps to attend the above event in Cardiff between 12 noon and 1.15pm on Tuesday 9th January 2018.

3000 Postal workers are attacked by dogs in the UK annually.

There have been fatal dog attacks on members of the public both adults and children in Wales.

On 2nd September 2011 the six year old son of Cllr Ali was savaged by a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog, which had escaped from the next door neighbour’s house. The little boy was in the back garden of his house, helping his mother bring in washing. He suffered many serious injuries and scars from the dog attack. As a result of this incident Julie became aware of the inadequacies of the law relating to the care and control of dogs, especially the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Subsequently both Julie Morgan and Dilwar Ali linked up with the CWU to support the successful CWU “Biteback” campaign which succeeded in gaining widespread support. The ‘Biteback’ campaign eventually brought about substantial Law changes and strengthening of the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act and gained a wide range of support from animal professionals and animal welfare charities.

Mandatory micro-chipping of dogs as a new system for identifying and controlling menacing and dangerous dogs and bad owners was introduced.

The joint campaigning, seeking stronger laws and dog controls plus public awareness raising continues in Wales, led by Julie, Dilwar and the CWU.

The purpose of the event on 9th January is to bring together the ideas, knowledge and expertise of all sectors working in this area and to build support and a consensus for action.

This will be the third event under the “Caring4K9s” banner organised at the Assembly, so it will also be an opportunity for speakers to update the meeting and importantly, identify areas where there can be further improvements to the law and its enforcement as well as public awareness.

Speakers At The Event:-

• Councillor Dilwar Ali Cardiff City Council Cabinet Member and Former Deputy Mayor.

• Dave Joyce Communication Workers Union National Health & Safety Officer

• Maria Wicks Dogs Trust – Head of DT Dogs School

• Councillor Huw Thomas Leader Cardiff City Council

• Lesley Griffiths AM Minister & Cabinet Secretary Rural Affairs

We look forward to seeing Wales CWU Reps attending.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB671 Caring4K9s Reviewing Responsible Dog Ownership in Wales to Reduce Dog Attacks

Caring4K9s invite 9.1.18

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Severe Weather –Royal Mail Group Actions and Communications

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

With temperatures continuing to fall, this week began with heavy snowfalls in parts of the UK and the week has seen power cuts, major travel disruptions involving Air, Road and Rail plus thousands of schools closed. The Met Office said on Monday that “increasingly frequent” snow showers would be affecting parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Midlands and Northern England.

Hundreds of homes and businesses were without power in Scotland and the West Midlands and the Police reported “numerous collisions” on the roads. The Met Office issued a yellow “be aware” warning for snow and ice.

Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool (SWRAT) and E-Learning Package:

A communication was issued on Monday by Royal Mail Group which reminded all Managers at all Offices to ensure that appropriate precautions are taken and that managers should familiarise themselves with the ‘Severe Weather Risk Assessment Tool” and a communication was circulated with a Link to the SWRAT, instructing that they should complete a severe weather risk assessment where appropriate. The materials on the severe weather support site should be used to prepare and managers should inform staff of the precautions that they can take when faced with severe weather. Another link was included in the communication to access the support site.

SWRAT e-Learning:

The Communication also reminded managers that a new e-learning package has been prepared to assist managers in the management of severe weather. The e-learning will help managers understand the principles of managing severe weather, the stages for doing this and the recommended ways of minimising the risks. The e-learning also shows a manager’s view on dealing with severe weather and a guide for the completion of the Severe Weather Risk Assessment. The communication advised office managers that to access the e-learning, they should input “Severe Weather Management” in the search tool within the Royal Mail Success Factors Site (Learning tab). (Copy Attached).

Safety News Message issued in All Regions Monday 11 December 2017:

A Safety News Message also went out to all Royal Mail Regions on Monday reiterating the severe weather amber warning, with parts of the UK experiencing extremely low temperatures,

ice, snow and freezing fog and reminding all units that they need to be using their Severe Weather Risk Assessment tool on a daily basis.

The Safety News reminded managers that the safety of Royal Mail’s people is the Business’s priority and the severe weather risk assessment tool will help managers to assess whether deliveries, collections or distribution can be undertaken. A link to access the tool was included.

The Safety News circular reiterated the availability of the SWRAT e-learning guide for the completion of the Severe Weather Risk Assessment. (Copy Attached)

Take Extra Care – Severe Weather A third safety communication headed ‘Take Extra Care – Severe Weather’ was also issued with the strapline “If it doesn’t feel safe don’t do it, and leave a large gap when driving.”

This communication asked the workforce to please take extra care and precautions as you go about your work this week following the significant snowfall across the UK. Shaun Davis, RMG Global Director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability issued a clear statement in this communication as follows; “Please ensure that you take the appropriate precautions. Check the local weather forecasts regularly and complete a dynamic risk assessment where appropriate. Please remember to wear PPE which is really important. Make sure you adhere to severe weather risk assessment controls and he said: – If it isn’t safe – or doesn’t feel safe – don’t do it. Also, if driving in severe weather, make sure you drive slowly and leave a large gap behind the vehicle in front. The materials on the severe weather support site can be used to prepare and inform colleagues of the precautions they can take when faced with severe weather.” (Copy Attached)

PDA Message

This message was put out on all PDAs last Saturday; ‘Don’t forget to complete your vehicle checks, make sure you take a warm drink and something to eat in winter weather, drive slowly and leave a large gap behind the vehicle in front.’

UK Severe Weather Amber Warning Report

A communication was also issued referring to the UK Severe Weather Amber Warning Report with links again to the RM Severe Weather Risk Assessment and a second link to the Met Office Severe Weather Website, where you can see more detail for your local area. (Copy Attached).

Plasma Screens

A ‘Severe Weather Driving’ Screen Shot was circulated on the Office Plasma Screens, advising drivers to drive slowly in severe weather and leave a large gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. (Copy Attached).

Intranet

A Severe Weather article capturing the above key points also went up on the RM intranet home page which is up there now.

Further reports will be issued as necessary.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB670 Severe Weather –Royal Mail Group Actions and Communications

Severe Weather

Dec – Take extra care Severe Weather docx

Severe driving conditions

RM Severe Weather Amber Warning 11 December 2017

Dec – Severe Weather Predicted

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CWU Young Workers Conference – Thursday 18th January 2018

The online registration system for registering delegates and observers to the above conference is now open.

As with previous conferences we ask that Branch Secretaries register their delegates/observers to the above conference. Branch Secretaries have been provided with a password for their branch. If you experience any problems please contact eventsregistration@cwu.org

The link to access the webpage is as follows or this can be copied into the search browser:

https://conference.cwu.org

Please note that once a delegate has been registered correctly using the online registration system an agenda will be sent via the branch office, if time permits. There will also be a small amount of spare agendas available on a first come first served basis on the day of the conference.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB672

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CWU Retired Members Conference – Wednesday 31st January 2018

The online registration system for registering delegates and observers to the above conference is now open.

As with previous conferences we ask that Branch Secretaries register their delegates/observers to the above conference. Branch Secretaries have been provided with a password for their branch. If you experience any problems please contact eventsregistration@cwu.org

The link to access the webpage is as follows or this can be copied into the search browser: https://conference.cwu.org

Please note that once a delegate has been registered correctly using the online registration system an agenda will be sent via the branch office, if time permits. There will also be a small amount of spare agendas available on a first come first served basis on the day of the conference.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB673

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National Negotiations Update December 2017:

Dear Colleague,

Firstly, we wish to thank you for your continued support and apologise for the lack of information over the last few weeks. The CWU had to respect the request from the mediators not to communicate on the national talks until after the mediation report has been produced.

We can now give you a full update on the National Negotiations. There has been progress on many of the issues. However due to the complexities of these issues there is still no agreement.

Talks have been ongoing for the last two weeks without the mediator. The CWU national negotiators are optimistic that we will have a good agreement at the end of the talks.

We should all be aware that progress has only been made because of the massive 89.1% yes vote in favour of strike action. If Royal Mail at any stage of the ongoing talks decide to stop listening to our concerns the union will have no choice but to invoke the industrial action mandate and announce strike action.

There has been real progress on all issues which made up the 4 Pillars Campaign.

The mediator has now produced a report. It is important to recognise that the report is not an agreement and that talks have continued without the mediator for the last two weeks. Further talks will take place into next week without the mediator. This dispute will only be settled by negotiations between Royal Mail and the CWU.

PENSIONS. There have been significant developments on Pensions. During all the previous negotiations Royal Mail had refused point blank to agree to having just one pension scheme for all.

However, during the negotiations which the Mediator was facilitating, Royal Mail agreed to the principle of one pension scheme for all.

Royal Mail and the CWU are still working on the details of the scheme but the following has been agreed.

A) That there will be one pension scheme for all.

That All Basic Pay and pensionable allowances will count towards pensionable pay.

C) This will significantly benefit those individuals who joined after April1987 and are in the old POPS scheme as their first £4000 of their basic wage is not pensionable. Under this scheme, it will be. This will benefit 88,000 members of the 93,000 in the current DB scheme who joined after 1st April 1987.

D) All DC scheme members will be in the new scheme and will for the first time have their pensionable allowances count towards their pension.

The above scheme will be a collective defined ambition Pension scheme which will guarantee a wage in retirement and there will be an element of shared risk.

This new scheme needs changes to the Pension Regulations and Royal Mail and the CWU will lobby the Government to have these changes introduced. The above represents significant progress. However, a lot more of the detail needs to be clarified before there is an agreed and legally binding commitment on pensions.

Both the union and Royal Mail recognises that whilst we are lobbying the Government for the changes to be made to allow for the Pension regulator to approve of such a pension scheme, we will need transitional arrangements prior to the 31st March 2018 when the Defined Benefit scheme closes.

The transitional arrangements could be that we simply agree an extension to the DB scheme closure date. However Royal Mail has offered the following as an interim measure;

. All current DB members get transferred into a Defined Benefit cash balance scheme;

. That any member who is in the DC scheme who has been in Royal Mail for 5 or more years would be also moved into the Defined Benefit Cash balance scheme;

. That all remaining members in the Defined Benefit scheme who had done more than 12 months would be auto enrolled onto the highest level which attracts Royal Mail’s contribution of 10%.

PAY. The CWU has rejected another Royal Mail pay offer which increased the lump sum from £350 to £550 which would have been consolidated from April by 2% and another 2% for next year and an hour off the working week. The external mediator has recommended 2.6% backdated to April 2017 flowing through to allowances. Pay remains unresolved and subject to further negotiations.

SHORTER WORKING WEEK. Royal Mail has offered an hour off the working week from next year. The CWU want agreement on a timetable which commits to the introduction of a 35-hour gross working week without loss of pay and with paid meal reliefs continuing and is pushing for a shorter working week based on automation and the decline of letter traffic. Also, a shorter working week will reduce absorption levels.

Prior to 2009 we had no sequencing and no flat automation. Now more of this workload completely bypasses the IPS. Royal Mail wants later acceptance times and more work sequenced on the first wave. This means that the first wave will not be sorted into the frame, the work will be un-sequenced.

If, and it is a big IF, the parcel machines work to full capacity, a manifest for each walk can be produced which then further reduces indoor work. Add to this Automated Hours Data Capture (AHDC), which identifies where you are in any part of the building and PDA actuals which record your last letter and location and time.

A reduction in the working week is therefore vital on the basis of the loss of indoor workload. The expectation from the employer will be to do longer and longer deliveries to compensate. Hence the importance of a substantial reduction in the working week. Those who argue that you can’t complete now within 39 hours should be aware that a shorter working week means they have to employ part timers on more hours or another full timer.

Royal Mail estimates that a 1 hour reduction in the working week based on no absorption equates to a cost of 100 million pounds. Remember the Shorter working week is without loss of pay and without losing paid meal reliefs. Due to the hourly rate going up part timers would benefit from a shorter working week with an instant pay rise. Our reasons for a shorter working week are sound.

LEGAL GUARANTEES. This is one area where progress has not been made and has not been helped by the Mediators report. The mediators’ recommendation is that the review should not take place until 2019. The CWU is insisting that Royal Mail agrees to an extension of the legal guarantees as part of any final deal. This would stop any attempts to introduce outsourcing, franchising, a two-tier workforce or a break-up of the company.

PIPELINE ISSUES. Progress has been made on all the issues which Royal Mail were originally proposing. This includes: Dropping the 1700 hour last letter and their 9-5 Delivery strategy. Royal Mail has moved its position from 17:00 to a range of finishing times from 14:30 and 15:30. (It is currently from 14:00 until 15:00). This remains unagreed by the CWU. The CWU are looking at agreeing trials on ADHC which can not be used for identifying where you are within your workplace and can not be used for individual performance standards or conduct issues.

The union has rejected walk ownership and the concept of outdoor delivery merging and are currently exploring trialling different indoor methods for prep. However, there will be change due to the fact that the growth in parcels is based on next day delivery. Additionally, new technology and automation is going to change the way we sort and the way we currently work. Against this background, the CWU is attempting to establish trials based on what will be acceptable in the future from automation and technological advances.

OTHER RELATED ISSUES. The following issues are still a fundamental part of the ongoing negotiations: Reviews of Part Timers contracted hours; Holiday pay for part time members; Resourcing in Offices and managers putting budget before quality of service.

CONCLUSION. We believe there has been real progress on most of the issues and accept that it is right for our national negotiators to continue to attempt to reach a final agreement. If at any stage the negotiations hit a brick wall then we should all be in no doubt that we will invoke our right to take strike action.

At this moment in time we are hopeful of a good agreement. The progress so far would not have been achieved without your support and your yes vote. The power of our collective strength through the union is there for us all to see. Keep the faith and keep supporting your union.

Election of National Representative Positions 2018 – CWU Equal Ops Advisory Committees

• Women’s Advisory Committee

• Race Advisory Committee

• Disability Advisory Committee

Further to LTB 635/17 dated 21st November 2017, please find detailed below the results of the ballots.

WOMEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE  

Postal – 7 Lay Members

Clare Drummond

Greater Manchester84,067*ElectedMorag Gillies

Glasgow District Amal77,358*ElectedElizabeth Harrington

South Central Postal82,169*ElectedSelina Hills

Eastern No. 451,326 Kath Kelly

Newcastle Amal91,684*ElectedHelen Ogilvie

Scotland No. 277,581*ElectedLaura Snell

Eastern No. 477,902*ElectedVicki Turner

Leeds No. 190,314*Elected

Telecom & Financial Services – 6 Lay Members  

Sylvia Beckett

Capital22,892*ElectedMelanie Gorrie

Scotland No. 122,349*ElectedKaren Kendrick

Manchester Combined26,243*ElectedJamie Monsma

Midland No. 110,085 Jacky Morrey

Mid Wales, The Marches & North Staffs25,434*ElectedJean Sharrocks

North East23,966*ElectedTrish Vollens

West Yorkshire26,888*Elected

RACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Postal – 7 Lay Members 

Adam Alarakhia

Leicestershire51,312*ElectedGreg Amissah

North Lancs & Cumbria47,017*ElectedMark Anthony Bastiani

London South West50,965*ElectedTrevor Berry

Kent Invicta37,739 Jay Bhundia

South West Middlesex Amal43,069 Dean L Farah

South East Wales Amal33,701 Linford Gibbons

Nottingham District Amal55,400*ElectedMorag Gillies

Glasgow District Amal45,852 Asghar Khan

Leeds No 1 Amal40,180 Saf Khan

North West No. 141,896 Prince Kingsley-Faborode

South Central Postal58,811*ElectedBola Omoyeni

South Midlands Postal56,312*ElectedSharon Pratt

South West No. 729,634 Sajid Shaikh

Birmingham District Amal83,649*Elected

DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Postal – 7 Lay Members

Adam Alarakhia

Leicestershire41,372 Mark Anthony Bastiani

London South West54,580*ElectedJay Bhundia

South West Middlesex Amal42,795 Dale-Marie Bliben

South Central Postal41,651 William Byrne

Glasgow District Amal39,811 Des Gibbons

Nottingham District Amal72,529*ElectedMorag Gillies

Glasgow District Amal50,776*ElectedRichard Hirtsch

Leeds No. 1 Amal45,873*ElectedBill Johnston

Scotland No. 232,658 Anthony Pedel

York & District Amal49,556*ElectedTony Sneddon

Scotland No. 582,213*ElectedLee Starr-Elliott

Bristol & District82,594*ElectedTony Waterhouse

Worcester & Hereford Amal37,442 The branch analysis for the above elections are attached to this LTB.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

17LTB669

Postal Returns

TFS Returns

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Doglaw Ltd (Cooper & Co Solicitors) – Two Live Webinars This Week on Thursday 14th December at 6.00pm and Friday 15th December at 11.00am On The Dangerous Dogs Act With Specialist Dangerous Dogs Law Solicitor Trevor Cooper

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

UK Top Dangerous Dogs Lawyer Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co Solicitors (Doglaw Ltd) will be presenting two 1 hour webinar sessions this week, which will look in detail at Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

This live presentation will cover:

• When is a dog regarded as dangerously out of control

• What is the criminal liability for owners and those in charge of other people’s dogs

• The difference between an aggravated and a non-aggravated offence

• The Householder Case defence

• The relevance of the Robinson-Pierre ruling

• What is an assistance dog

• Power of the Police and Council to seize a dog

• Sentencing provisions (including the 2016 Sentencing Guidelines)

• When is destruction likely to be ordered

• What is a Contingent Destruction Order

• Implications of a breach

Time permitting, at the end of the webinar, Trevor will be happy to answer questions on the webinar content

Doglaw Ltd is offering two opportunities to join this webinar:

• Thursday 14th December at 6.00pm

• Friday 15th December at 11.00am

The cost is £10 per person, all major debit and credit cards are accepted.

To book a place:-

1. Online at www.DoglawSOS.co.uk or

2. Call 0800 999 3647 during normal office hours

Doglaw Ltd will be offering additional live webinars on other Doglaw subjects during 2018.

Dangerous Dogs Act Seminars, Training Courses, CDs and Webinars organised by Top Lawyer

Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co Solicitors and Doglaw Ltd are highly recommended by the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB668 Doglaw Ltd (Cooper & Co Solicitors) – Two Live Webinars This Week on Thursday

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Message from the GS on Postal Workers Day #RiseUp

 

Colleagues,

Here is our joint Christmas Advert with Momentum. Please share it as widely as possible. John Lewis eat your heart out #RiseUp

Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions (RMPFS) – Winter Gritting and Snow Clearing Communication 2017/18

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions in conjunction with the Royal Mail Safety Health and Environment Team have refreshed the Winter Gritting and Snow Clearing Communication 2017/18, a copy of which is attached.

This covers both RMG sites that are on the contracted gritting service schedule and additionally ‘self-grit’ plus those sites that are ‘self-grit’ only.

A contract is in place for grit supplies with RMG’s appointed contractor ISS (Litterboss) and this will cover the period from October 2017 to the end of April 2018.

Gritting occurs when the Met Office’s six hourly report indicates that;

• the road temperature will be 0º centigrade between midnight and 6am the next morning,

• and the weather condition is predicted to be damp, wet, ice or snowing

In the event of non-attendance by the gritting contractor or when a snap frost occurs requiring gritting, Office Managers (PICs) should contact the Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions (RMP&FS) Helpdesk on 0844 800 9191 and request that the contractor attends the site.

The contracted gritting and snow clearance service includes:

• Gritting and snow clearance services that will be carried out to hard-surfaces, including loading bays, access roads, walkways and all car parks (RMG vehicles and both employee and public parking) that RMG both owns or manages.

• Gritting and snow clearance services must be completed before 07:00 – the service will generally be undertaken between Midnight and 7am.

• Gritting and snow clearance services will not occur under vehicles.

• RMG managers on site may not override or cancel any reactive gritting or snow clearance service which has been triggered by the Met Office weather report.

• Gritting and snow clearance will, under normal circumstances, be performed ONCE per day. (Additional gritting or snow clearance requests can be put through the P&FS Helpdesk with the additional cost needing to be cleared via “Demand Challenge” in the Business Unit concerned.

• In advance and on completion of each gritting service a confirmation email will be sent to the nominated site contact (PIC) email address.

• Where an office is closed and there is not a Royal Mail manager/employee on site, the gritting contractor has been authorised to access the yard and given keys, access codes or swipe cards as appropriate. The yard shall be left secure on completion of the service.

Any concerns or disputes over the service provided, PICs/Managers should contact the P&FS Helpdesk on 0844 800 9191.

Self-Gritting:

All sites order their own grit and snow clearing equipment during the summer months for use during the winter if required. This includes sites that have contracted gritting services as well as those that do not. Surplus grit stocks and snow clearing equipment will be stored safely and securely on site and utilised the following year.

Prior to any self-gritting and snow clearing, a proper health and safety risk assessment must be undertaken and safe systems of work must be followed at all times.

RMGP&FS advise that following best practices helps reduce the risks as follows:

• Monitor the weather forecast to ensure that gritting takes place before the snow and ice arrives for precautionary cover.

• Prioritise the grit and snow clearing on sites, notably callers’ office walkways, steps, slopes, staff entrances, yards, etc.

• Ensure that gritting and snow clearing occurs with minimum risk to those performing the task, i.e. when no vehicles are moving in the yard.

• Where appropriate, PPE must be worn – e.g. hi-vis, waterproofs, gloves etc. as required.

• Bags of grit weigh 20kg. Therefore, the correct manual handling techniques, training and SSoW must be applied when moving these. They should be opened safely and handled in small amounts at a time when placing the grit/salt into the grit/salt spreader.

• To assist in the amount of grit required, RMP&FS have calculated that a 20kg bag will cover:

• Precautionary cover; 10/15 grams per m² – this equates to approx.1,700m² per 20kg bag (your yard size should be within your site log book).

• Ice and snow cover; 20/40 grams per m² – this equates to approx. 800m² per 20kg bag (your yard size should be within your site log book).

Note: PICs or a PIC Nominated, Trained Person will be responsible for the above.

It is difficult to obtain emergency supplies of grit once the snow and ice has arrived so stocks should always be in place ahead of severe weather and it can always be used next year.

For further information PICs/Managers should contact their Regional or Business Union “Demand Challenge Team” via normal communication routes.

Or:-

Ray Young Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions Contracts Manager Tel: 078 0179 3170 Email: ray.a.young@royalmail.com

Mick Harrott Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions (Gritting Service Lead) Tel: 078 8912 3294 Email: mick.harrott@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

17LTB666 Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions (RMPFS) – Winter Gritting and Snow Clearing Communication 201718

RMPFS Winter Gritting and Snow Clearing Refresh Comms Oct 2017 V3

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